Leaves Change Colors

Observe the changing foliage as autumn approaches. The Scholastic Science Readers series was created especially to bring exciting nonfiction to beginning readers. Illustrated with full-color photos.

A simple explanantion of how green leaves change colors, die, and then grow back again.

Watch as the leaves soak up water, take in carbon dioxide, and absorb the sun's rays--all to make food! As the hours of daylight shorten, the tree makes less food, and leaves begin to die. The chlorophyll in the leaves fades away, and their colors change to reds, yellows, and oranges.

All through the winter the trees rest, with only buds left on their branches. In the spring, the cycle begins again.